Monday 31 December 2012

Modal Verbs may, might: meaning and use


Meaning possibility, often-future possibility, and permission
N.B. we can express the same meaning by ''perhaps" or "possibly"

E.g.    Where is James?         Why is he late?
•          I don't know, he may / might be ill
•          I don't know, perhaps he is ill
•          It may / might rain tomorrow but I hope it will be sunny.
•          May I use the telephone?
•        May we leave now, Miss Black? "no you may not, you haven't finished your work yet" ("may not" means there's no permission)

To express a past possibility you use may + have + past participle of the verb
    Where is James? "I don't know Mr Bums. He may have missed the bus."



USE OF MAY / MIGHT

may

We can use 'may' to ask for permission. However this is rather formal and not used very often in modern spoken English

          May I borrow your pen?
          May we think about it?
          May I go now?

We use 'may' to suggest something is possible

          It may rain later today.
          I may not have time to do it today.
          Pete may come with us
might

We use 'might' to suggest a small possibility of something. Often we read that 'might' suggests a smaller possibility that 'may', there is in fact little difference and 'might is more usual than' may 'in spoken English

          She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
          It might rain this afternoon.
          I might not have time to go to the shops for you.

For the past, we use 'might have'

          He might have tried to call while I was out.
          I might have dropped it in the street.
          I might not go

Exercises:

Elementary

№1
Choose the correct option

№2
Fill each gap with a correct form

№3
Put the following words into the correct order

№4
Fill each gap with a correct form

№5
Match the phrases into the sentences

№6
Choose the correct option

№7
Choose the correct option

№8
Choose the correct option


№9
Choose the correct option


№10
Choose the correct option


Intermediate

№1
Choose the correct option


№2
Fill each gap with a correct form


№3
Fill each gap with a correct form


№4
Fill each gap with a correct form


№5
Put the following words into the correct order

№6
Choose the correct option


№7
Choose the correct option


№8
Click on the words in the correct order


№9
Choose the correct option


№10
Fill each gap with a correct form


Advanced

№1
Match a sentence with its purpose


№2
Match the following sentences

№3
Write sentences using "may" or "might"

№4
Fill each gap with a correct form


№5
Rewrite the following sentences

№6
Choose the correct option


№7
Choose the correct option


№8
Fill each gap with a correct form


№9
Fill each gap with a correct form


№10
Choose the correct option


Test
Key


Monday 24 December 2012

Modal Verbs: Can, Could, To Be Able To

Can

"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility.
Examples:
  • I can ride a horse. ability
  • We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris. opportunity
  • She cannot stay out after 10 PM. permission
  • Can you hand me the stapler? request
  • Any child can grow up to be president. possibility

Using "Can" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "can" behaves in different contexts.
Modal Use Positive Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
Negative Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
You can also use:
can
general ability
1. I can speak Chinese. 2. SHIFT TO "COULD"
I could speak Chinese when I was a kid.
3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
I will be able to speak Chinese by the time I finish my course.
1. I can't speak Swahili. 2. SHIFT TO "COULD"
I couldn't speak Swahili.
3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
I won't be able to speak Swahili.
be able to
can
ability during a specific event
1. With a burst of adrenaline, people can pick up cars. 2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
With a sudden burst of adrenaline, he was able to lift the car off the child's leg.
3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
With a sudden burst of adrenaline, he will be able to lift the car.
1. Even with a burst of adrenaline, people can't pick up something that heavy. 2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
Even the weight lifter, couldn't lift the car off the child's leg.
3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
Even three men working together won't be able to lift the car.
be able to
can
opportunity
1. I have some free time. I can help her now. 2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
I had some free time yesterday. I was able to help her at that time.
3. I'll have some free time tomorrow. I can help her then.
1. I don't have any time. I can't help her now. 2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
I didn't have time yesterday. I wasn't able to help her at that time.
3. I won't have any time later. I can't help her then.
be able to
can
permission
1. I can drive Susan's car when she is out of town. 2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO "
I was allowed to drive Susan's car while she was out of town last week.
3. I can drive Susan's car while she is out of town next week.
1. I can't drive Susan's car when she is out of town. 2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO "
I wasn't allowed to drive Susan's car while she was out of town last week.
3. I can't drive Susan's car while she is out of town next week.
may
can
request
Can I have a glass of water? Can you give me a lift to school?
Requests usually refer to the near future.
Can't I have a glass of water? Can't you give me a lift to school?
Requests usually refer to the near future.
could, may
can
possibility, impossibility
Anyone can become rich and famous if they know the right people. Learning a language can be a real challenge.
This use is usually a generalization or a supposition.
It can't cost more than a dollar or two. You can't be 45! I thought you were about 18 years old.
This use is usually a generalization or a supposition.
could
Could
"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can."












Examples:
  • Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. possibility
  • Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. past ability
  • You could see a movie or go out to dinner. suggestion
  • Could I use your computer to email my boss? request
  • We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. conditional

Using "Could" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "could" behaves in different contexts.
Modal Use Positive Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
Negative Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
You can also use:
could
possibility
1. John could be the one who stole the money. 2. John could have been the one who stole the money.
3. John could go to jail for stealing the money.
1. Mary couldn't be the one who stole the money. 2. Mary couldn't have been the one who stole the money.
3. Mary couldn't possibly go to jail for the crime.
might,
may
could
conditional
of can
1. If I had more time, I could travel around the world. 2. If I had had more time, I could have traveled around the world.
3. If I had more time this winter, I could travel around the world.
1. Even if I had more time, I couldn't travel around the world. 2. Even if I had had more time, I couldn't have traveled around the world.
3. Even if I had more time this winter, I couldn't travel around the world.

could
suggestion
1. NO PRESENT FORM 2. You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii.
3. You could spend your vacation in Hawaii.
NO NEGATIVE FORMS
could
past ability
I could run ten miles in my twenties. I could speak Chinese when I was a kid.
"Could" cannot be used in positive sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability.
Yesterday, I could lift the couch by myself. Not Correct
I couldn't run more than a mile in my twenties. I couldn't speak Swahili.
"Could" can be used in negative sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability.
Yesterday, I couldn't lift the couch by myself. Correct
be able to
could
polite request
Could I have something to drink? Could I borrow your stapler?
Requests usually refer to the near future.
Couldn't he come with us? Couldn't you help me with this for just a second?
Requests usually refer to the near future.
can,
may,
might
Can I …? Can you …? Could I … Could you …? and so on.
The negative form is can’t in spoken English and cannot in written English.
We sometimes say cannot, but it is very emphatic.
The negative form of could is couldn’t in spoken English and could not in written English.
We sometimes say could not.
We use can and can’t :
  • To talk about ability:
Maria can speak four languages.
I can’t swim, but my sister can.
  • To say that something is possible or impossible:
Learning English can be difficult [= Learning English is sometimes difficult.]
Children can be very naughty [= Children are sometimes very naughty.]
It’s still light. It can’t be bedtime.
  • For requests and refusals of requests
Can I go home now?
You can go whenever you like.
You can borrow the car today, but you can’t have it tomorrow.
  • To offer to help someone:
Can I help you?
Can I carry that bag for you?
We use could and couldn’t as the past tense of can/can’t:
  • To talk about ability:
I could run very fast when I was younger.
She couldn’t get a job anywhere.
  • To say that something was possible or impossible:
Our teacher could be very strict when we were at school. [= Some teachers were very strict.]
People could starve in those days. [= People sometimes starved.]
You couldn’t use computers in the nineteenth century.
  • To make a polite request:
Could I go now please?
Could you lend me a dictionary please?
  • To make a polite offer:
Could I give you a lift?
I could carry that for you.
We use could have:
  • to show that something is possible now or was possible at some time in the past:
It’s ten o’clock. They could have arrived now.
They could have arrived hours ago.

Exercises:
Elementary
Look at the pictures and choose the best answer.
Complete the sentences with can or can't.
Make negative sentences. Use the verbs in brackets.
Rewrite the sentences.
Make statements or questions.
Use the verbs can, may, must in positive or negative forms.
Rewrite the sentences.
Read the sentences and choose the correct response.
Choose the correct verb forms and complete the sentences.
Intermediate
Mix and match.
Requests, offers or possibility?
Put in order.
Rules and regulations.
The logical possibility.
Multiple choice.
Modal Auxiliary Verbs Game - Can, Must, Would - Basketball

Exercise8
When i was two.

Exercise9
Paraphrase

Exercise10
Complete the following sentences using the most appropriate forms of the verbs
Advanced
Fill in the blanks with can or can't and then check your answers below.

Exercise2
Mix and match.

Exercise3
Fill in the spaces with the right modal verbs.


Can - To Be Able To

'Can' is also used to express ability. Another form that can be used to express ability is 'to be able to'. Usually, either of these two forms can be used.

Examples:
I can play the piano. => I'm able to play the piano.
She can speak Spanish. => She's able to speak Spanish.


There is no future or perfect form of 'can'. Use 'to be able to' in both future and perfect tenses.

Examples:
Jack's been able to golf for three years.
I'll be able to speak Spanish when I finish the course.

Special Case of the Past Positive Form

When speaking about a specific (non-general) event in the past only 'to be able to' is used in the positive form. However, both 'can' and 'to be able to' are used in the past negative.

Examples:
I was able to get tickets for the concert. NOT I could get tickets for the concert.
I couldn't come last night. OR I wasn't able to come last night.

 
Exercises:

Elementary:
Exercise1
Mini-test. Create the sentences.

Exercise2
Choose the most appropriate answer for expressing ability.

Exercise3
Choose the most appropriate answer for expressing the idea specified in parentheses.

Intermediate:
Exercise1
"Have to - Be able to". Complete the sentences.

Exercise2
Fill in the blanks with can, can’t, could, couldn’t or was / wasn’t able to

Exercise3
Choose the correct form.

Exercise4
Write the phrases in brackets in their correct forms into the gaps.

Exercise5
Complete the sentences.

Exercise6
Test


Advanced:
Exercise1
Multiple choice.

Exercise2
Multiple choice.

Exercise3
Multiple choice.

Exercise4
Put the modal verbs into the right tense.

My Test
Key

Monday 17 December 2012

The Pronoun. Meaning. The main groups of pronouns, their forms, meaning and use.

In linguistics and grammar, a pronoun is a word or form that substitutes for a nounor noun phrase. It is a particular case of a pro-form.
Pronouns have traditionally been regarded as one of the parts of speech, although many modern theorists would not regard them as a single distinct word class, because of the variety of functions performed by words which are classed as pronouns. Common types include the personal pronouns, relative pronouns,interrogative pronouns, demonstrative pronouns and indefinite pronouns.
The use of pronouns often involves anaphora, where the meaning of the pronoun is dependent on another referential element. This applies particularly to the (third-person) personal pronouns. The referent of the pronoun is often the same as that of a preceding (or sometimes following) noun phrase, called the antecedent of the pronoun. For example, in the sentence That poor man looks as if he needs a new coat, the antecedent of the pronoun he is the noun phrase that poor man. (Pronouns used without antecedents are sometimes called unprecursed pronouns.) Another type of antecedent is that found with relative pronouns, as in the woman who looked at you, where the woman is the antecedent of the relative pronoun who.
Common types of pronouns found in the world's languages are as follows:
  • Personal pronouns denote an entity of a specific grammatical person: first person (as in the case of I, me, we, etc.), second person (as in the case of you), or third person (he, she, they, etc.)
    • Subject pronouns are used when the person or thing is the subject of the sentence or clause. English example: I like to eat chips, but she does not.
      • Second person formal and informal pronouns (T-V distinction). For example,vous and tu in French. There is no distinction in modern English though Elizabethan English marked the distinction with "thou" (singular informal) and "you" (plural or singular formal).
      • Inclusive and exclusive "we" pronouns indicate whether the audience is included. There is no distinction in English.
      • Intensive pronouns, also known as emphatic pronouns, re-emphasize a noun or pronoun that has already been mentioned. English uses the same forms as the reflexive pronouns; for example: I did it myself (contrast reflexive use, I did it to myself).
    • Object pronouns are used when the person or thing is the object of the sentence or clause. English example: John likes mebut not her.
      • Direct and indirect object pronouns. English uses the same oblique form for both; for example: Mary loves him (direct object); Mary sent him a letter (indirect object).
      • Reflexive pronouns are used when a person or thing acts on itself. English example: John cut himself.
      • Reciprocal pronouns refer to a reciprocal relationship. English example: They do not like each other.
    • Prepositional pronouns come after a preposition. No distinct forms exist in English; for example: Anna and Maria looked athim.
    • Disjunctive pronouns are used in isolation or in certain other special grammatical contexts. No distinct forms exist in English; for example: Who does this belong to? Me.
    • Dummy pronouns are used when grammatical rules require a noun (or pronoun), but none is semantically required. English example: It is raining.
    • Weak pronouns.
  • Possessive pronouns are used to indicate possession or ownership.
    • In a strict sense, the possessive pronouns are only those that act syntactically as nouns. English example: Those clothes aremine.
    • Often, though, the term "possessive pronoun" is also applied to the so-called possessive determiners (or possessive adjectives). For example, in English: I lost my wallet. They are not strictly speaking pronouns because they do not substitute for a noun or noun phrase, and as such, some grammarians classify these terms in a separate lexical category called determiners (they have a syntactic role close to that of adjectives, always qualifying a noun).
  • Demonstrative pronouns distinguish the particular objects or people that are referred to from other possible candidates. English example: I'll take these.
  • Indefinite pronouns refer to general categories of people or things. English example: Anyone can do that.
    • Distributive pronouns are used to refer to members of a group separately rather than collectively. English example: To each his own.
    • Negative pronouns indicate the non-existence of people or things. English example: Nobody thinks that.
  • Relative pronouns refer back to people or things previously mentioned. English example: People who smoke should quit now.
    • Indefinite relative pronouns have some of the properties of both relative pronouns and indefinite pronouns. They have a sense of "referring back", but the person or thing to which they refer has not previously been explicitly named. English example: I knowwhat I like.
  • Interrogative pronouns ask which person or thing is meant. English example: Who did that?
    • In many languages (e.g., Czech, English, French, Interlingua, and Russian), the sets of relative and interrogative pronouns are nearly identical. Compare English: Who is that? (interrogative) to I know who that is. (relative).
Exersises: 
Elementary level

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exersise 3
Exersise 4
Exersise 5

Advanced level
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3

Exersise 4
Exersise 5

Test 

Key

Monday 10 December 2012

The Adverb. Meaning. Classification according to the meaning. Degrees of comparison.


What is an Adverb?

An adverb is a word that tells us more about a verb. It "qualifies" or "modifies" a verb (The man ranquickly). In the following examples, the adverb is in bold and the verb that it modifies is in italics.
  • John speaks loudly. (How does John speak?)
  • Afterwards she smoked a cigarette. (When did she smoke?)
  • Mary lives locally. (Where does Mary live?)
But adverbs can also modify adjectives (Tara is really beautiful), or even other adverbs (It works verywell). Look at these examples:
  • Modify an adjective:
    - He is really handsome. (How handsome is he?)
    - That was extremely kind of you.
  • Modify another adverb:
    - She drives incredibly slowly. (How slowly does she drive?)
    - He drives extremely fast.

Adverb Form

We make many adverbs by adding -ly to an adjective, for example:
  • quick (adjective) > quickly (adverb)
  • careful (adjective) > carefully (adverb)
  • beautiful (adjective) > beautifully (adverb)
There are some basic rules about spelling for -ly adverbs. See the table below:
Adjective endingdo thisadjectiveadverb
most adjectivesadd -lyquick
nice
sole
careful
quickly
nicely
solely
carefully
-able or -iblechange -e to -yregrettable
horrible
regrettably
horribly
-ychange -y to -ilyhappyhappily
-icchange -ic to -icallyeconomiceconomically
But not all words that end in -ly are adverbs. The words friendlylovelylonely and neighbourly, for example, are all adjectives.
And some adverbs have no particular form. Look at these examples:
  • well, fast, very, never, always, often, still

Kinds of Adverbs

Here you can see the basic kinds of adverbs.

Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of Manner tell us the manner or way in which something happens. They answer the question "how?". Adverbs of Manner mainly modify verbs.
  • He speaks slowly. (How does he speak?)
  • They helped us cheerfully. (How did they help us?)
  • James Bond drives his cars fast. (How does James Bond drive his cars?)

Adverbs of Place

Adverbs of Place tell us the place where something happens. They answer the question "where?". Adverbs of Place mainly modify verbs.
  • Please sit here. (Where should I sit?)
  • They looked everywhere. (Where did they look?)
  • Two cars were parked outside. (Where were two cars parked?)

Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of Time tell us something about the time that something happens. Adverbs of Time mainly modify verbs.
They can answer the question "when?":
  • He came yesterday. (When did he come?)
  • want it now. (When do I want it?)
Or they can answer the question "how often?":
  • They deliver the newspaper daily. (How often do they deliver the newspaper?)
  • We sometimes watch a movie. (How often do we watch a movie?)

Adverbs of Degree

Adverbs of Degree tell us the degree or extent to which something happens. They answer the question "how much?" or "to what degree?". Adverbs of Degree can modify verbsadjectives and other adverbs.
  • She entirely agrees with him. (How much does she agree with him?)
  • Mary is very beautiful. (To what degree is Mary beautiful? How beautiful is Mary?)
  • He drove quite dangerously. (To what degree did he drive dangerously? How dangerously did he drive?)

Adverb Position

When an adverb modifies a verb, there are usually 3 possible positions within the sentence or clause:
1. FRONT - before subjectNowI will read a book.
2. MID - between subject + verbIoftenread books.
3. END - after verb/objectread bookscarefully.
When an adverb modifies an adjective or another adverb, it usually goes in front of the word that it modifies, for example:
adverbadjective
She gave him areallydirtylook.
adverbadverb
Wequiteoftenstudy English.
The position of an adverb often depends on the kind of adverb (manner, place, time, degree). The following table gives you some guidelines for placement based on the kind of adverb.
Warning: these are guidelines only, and not complete. There are many exceptions.
kind of adverbmainly modifiessentenceusual position
adverb
mannerverbsShe stroked his hairgently.END
placeverbsHe was workinghere.END
timedefiniteverbsHe finished the jobyesterday.END
frequencyWeoftengo to Paris.MID
degreeverbs, adjectives and adverbsInearlydied.MID
It wasterriblyfunny.before adjective
He worksreallyfast.before adverb

Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of Frequency are Adverbs of Time that answer the question "How frequently?" or "How often?". They tell us how often something happens. Here are some examples:


  1. daily, weekly, yearly
  1. often, sometimes, rarely


You probably see a difference between a) and b) above. With words like daily we know exactly how often. The words in a) describe definite frequency. On the other hand, words like often give us an idea about frequency but they don't tell us exactly. The words in b) describe indefinite frequency.

Comparison of Adverbs

Adverbs, like adjectives, have three degrees of comparison – the positive, the comparative and the superlative. The different degrees of comparison are formed in different ways:

Short adverbs having just one syllable form the comparative and the superlative by the addition of –er and –est to the positive.

Hard (positive), harder (comparative), hardest (superlative)

Soon, sooner, soonest

Fast, faster, fastest

Late, later, latest

Loud, louder, loudest

Clean, cleaner, cleanest

Clear, clearer, clearest

Low, lower, lowest

High, higher, highest

Note that almost all adverbs which are also used as adjectives belong to this class.


Adverbs ending in –ly

Adverbs which end in –ly take more for the comparative and most for the superlative.Softly (positive), more softly (comparative), most softly (superlative)

ExceptionThe adverb early is an exception to this rule.Early (positive), earlier (comparative), earliest (superlative)Some adverbs form their comparative and superlative degrees in an irregular manner:Far (positive), farther, further (comparative), farthest, furthest (superlative)


Notes

It should be noted that only adverbs of time, degree and manner have three degrees of comparison.Adverbs such as now, then, once, there, where, why, how, not, never, ever etc., cannot be compared and hence they do not have the three degrees of comparison.


Exercises:


Elementary


 Exercise 1  Find the adjective in the first sentence and fill in the blanks with the corresponding adverb
 Exercise 2 Multiple-choice exercise
 Exercise 3  Order the words on the right from least (0) to most (+++) frequent
 Exercise 4 Multiple-choice exercise 
 Exercise 5 Choose the adverb in each sentence by clicking on the red button next to your choice 
 Exercise6 Decide which adjective or adverb needs to be used in order to make the sentence correct  
 Exercise7 Form adverbs to the given adjectives
 Exercise8 Click on words to build sentences 
 Exercise9 Think about whether you should use the adverb or the adjective in each of these sentences  
Exercise10  Change the following adjectives into adverbs of manner and complete the sentences below

Intemediate


Exercise 1 Match the items on the right to the items on the left
Exercise 2 Write the following sentences with the given frequency adverb or adverbial phrase
Exercise 3 Multiple-choice exercise
Exercise 4 Fill in the blank with the correct comparative form of the adverb 
Exercise 5 In each of the following pairs, indicate whether the highlighted word is an adverb or an adjective
Exercise 6 Choose the best answer
Exercise 7 Find the adjective in the first sentence and fill the gap with the adverb
Exercise 8 Compare the following adverbs
Exercise 9 Fill in the words in brackets as adjective or adverb as in the example
Exercise 10 Choose the correct answer below to fill the gap

Advanced


Exercise 1 Multiple-choice exercise
Exercise 2 Multiple-choice exercise
Exercise 3 Complete sentences by filling in a suitable adverb
Exercise 4 Fill in the correct adverb form (comparative or superlative) of the adjectives in brackets.
Exercise 5 Put the words in the correct order
Exercise 6 Rewrite the complete sentence using the adverb in brackets in its usual position. 
Exercise 7 choose from the list of adjectives and adverbs in the box below
Exercise 8 Fill in all the gaps, then press "Check" to check your answers
Exercise 9 Choose the correct answer for each gap below, then click the "Check" button to check your answers
Exercise 10 For each sentence, choose the best word or phrase to complete the gap from the choices below

TEST
KEY